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Obama lays wreath for fallen soldiers, completes day of activities

Published:Thursday | April 9, 2015 | 12:00 AMJody-Anne Lawrence
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Jermaine Barnaby
US President Barack Obama lays a wreath at National Heroes Park.
Jermaine Barnaby
Jamaica's Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller greets US President Barack Obama just before he laid a wreath at National Heroes Park.
Rudolph Brown photo
Jamaican Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller greets US President Barack Obama at Jamaica House.
Rudolph Brown
Jamaican Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller greets US President Barack Obama with a kiss at Jamaica House.
Jermaine Barnaby
US President Barack Obama (right) meets with World War II veteran Barry Beckford just before laying a wreath at National Heroes' Park. Looking on is World War II veteran Major Victor Beek.
Ricardo Makyn
Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller gives US President Barack Obama a final goodbye kiss and hug before he departed the island from the Norman Manley International Airport yesterday.
United States President Barack Obama enroute to Natoinal Heroes Circle, in the presidential state car also refered to as 'Cadillac One', 'Limo One' or 'The Beast'.
Norman Grindley
Olympic champion Usain Bolt (centre) watches from the audience as United States President Barack Obama addresses youth leaders at the University of the West Indies.
Rudolph Brown
United States security personnel on the roof of Jamaica House ahead of President Barack Obama's arrival yesterday morning.
Ian Allen
A crowd of people gather around Heroes Circle, awaiting the arrival of United States President Barack Obama.
Norman Grindley
Olympians Usain Bolt and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce look on during the youth leaders town hall addressed by US President Barack Obama.
Jermaine Barnaby
US security personnel enter National Heroes Park just before US President Barack Obama was scheduled to lay a wreath in tribute to fallen soldiers.
Norman Grindley/Chief Photographer
US President Barack Obama addresses youth leaders at the University of the West Indies.
Ricardo Makyn
US President Barack Obama departs Jamaica from the Norman Manley International Airport yesterday.
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The screams of excitement from residents of the communities surrounding National Heroes Park and other onlookers who came from miles away yesterday signalled the arrival of United States President Barack Obama for the final act of his short visit to Jamaica.

Obama had come to the park to take part in a wreath-laying ceremony at the Cenotaph, in tribute to the soldiers who died during World Wars I and II.

On exiting the Beast, his presidential state car, Obama flashed his ever-present smile and was greeted by Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller, Education Minister Ronald Thwaites, National Security Minister Peter Bunting, Opposition Leader Andrew Holness, Custos of St Andrew Donna Parchment-Brown and Custos of Kingston Steadman Fuller.

The US president, accompanied by his aid, Major Steven Schreiber, laid the wreath, decorated in the colours of the US flag and emblazoned with the words 'In Memory of Those Who Fell in the Great War'.

After a few more words with Simpson Miller, Obama returned to the Beast and was whisked away to Marine One, which took him to the Norman Manley International Airport. Minutes later, Obama waved goodbye and left the island on Air Force One.